Category Archives: Psoriasis

Psoriasis facts Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Patients with psoriasis who are obese are predisposed to diabetes and heart disease. Psoriasis can be initiated by certain environmental triggers. A predisposition for psoriasis is inherited in genes. Psoriasis is not contagious. Psoriasis gets better and worse spontaneously and can have periodic remissions (clear skin). Psoriasis is controllable with medication. Psoriasis is currently not curable. There are many promising therapies, including newer biologic drugs. Future research for psoriasis is promising. What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces red papules that merge together into plaques of thickened, scaling skin. The dry flakes of skin scales are thought to result from the excessively rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by abnormal lymphocytes. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Some people have such mild psoriasis (small, faint dry skin patches) that they may not even suspect that they have a medical skin condition. Others have very severe psoriasis where virtually their entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin.

Psoriasis is considered an incurable, long-term (chronic) skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission. Many people note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months.

Psoriasis affects all races and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of any age, from babies to seniors, most commonly patients are first diagnosed in their early adult years. The quality of life of patients with psoriasis is often diminished because of the appearance of their skin. Recently, it has become clear that people with psoriasis are more likely to have diabetes, high blood lipids, and heart disease. There are speculations as to how this might relate to their joint and skin inflammation. Caring for psoriasis takes medical teamwork.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/16/2013

Psoriasis - Effective Treatments Question: What kinds of treatments have been effective for your psoriasis?

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Scalp Psoriasis - Creams and Lotions Question: Which creams or lotions (topical medications) have helped you treat scalp psoriasis?

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Natural Psoriasis Relief in Seattle, Washington
Think you tried everything for your psoriasis? The answer may be related to your nervous system. Find out more about natural psoriasis relief with a special type of chiropractic care called...

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PSORIASIS VULGARIS

By: Djordje Petrovic

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PSORIASIS VULGARIS - Video

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. You usually get the patches on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of your body. Some people who have psoriasis also get a form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.

A problem with your immune system causes psoriasis. In a process called cell turnover, skin cells that grow deep in your skin rise to the surface. Normally, this takes a month. In psoriasis, it happens in just days because your cells rise too fast.

Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. Your doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.

Psoriasis can last a long time, even a lifetime. Symptoms come and go. Things that make them worse include

Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It sometimes runs in families. Treatments include creams, medicines, and light therapy.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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Psoriasis: MedlinePlus - U.S. National Library of Medicine

Psoriasis (pronounced //; from Greek , meaning "itching condition" or "being itchy",[1]psora "itch" + -sis "action, condition"; also termed psoriasis vulgaris),[2] is a common, chronic immune-mediated skin disease which may also affect the joints.[2]

Psoriasis is characterized by scaly, erythematous (reddened) patches, papules, and plaques which are usually pruritic (itchy).[2] There are five main types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic.[3] The most common form, plaque psoriasis, is commonly seen as red and white hues of scaly patches appearing on the top first layer of the epidermis (skin). Some patients, though, have no dermatological signs or symptoms.[medical citation needed] In plaque psoriasis, skin rapidly accumulates at these sites, which gives it a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area, including the scalp, palms of hands and soles of feet, and genitals. In contrast to eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the outer side of the joint. Fingernails and toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy) and can be seen as an isolated sign. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis. Up to 30% of individuals with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.[4]

The causes of psoriasis are not fully understood. It is generally considered a genetic disease which can be triggered or influenced by environmental factors.[2] Local psoriatic changes can be triggered by an injury to the skin known as the Koebner phenomenon.[5] Various environmental factors have been suggested as aggravating to psoriasis, including oxidative stress,[6]stress, withdrawal of systemic corticosteroid, as well as other environmental factors, but few have shown statistical significance.[7] Psoriasis occurs when the immune system mistakes a normal skin cell for a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that cause overproduction of new skin cells. It is not contagious.[8]

There is no cure,[8] but various treatments can help to control the symptoms.[9][10] There are many treatments available, but because of its chronic recurrent nature, psoriasis is a challenge to treat. Withdrawal of corticosteroids (topical steroid cream) can aggravate the condition due to the 'rebound effect' of corticosteroids.[11]

The disorder is a chronic, recurring condition that varies in severity from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. It occurs in 1-3% of the general population.[8]

Psoriasis is classified as a papulosquamous disorder.[4] It is most commonly classified according to historical morphologic descriptions.[2] Variants include plaque, pustular, guttate, and flexural psoriasis. This section describes each type (with ICD-10 code).[12]

Another classification takes into account genetic and demographic factors. Type 1 has a positive family history, starts before the age of 40 and is associated with the human leukocyte antigen, HLA-Cw6. Conversely, Type 2 does not show a family history, presents before age 40 and is not associated with HLA-Cw6.[13] Type 1 accounts for about 75% of persons with psoriasis.[14]

Psoriasis can also be classified into nonpustular and pustular types as follows.[15]

Pustular psoriasis (L40.13, L40.82) appears as raised bumps that are filled with noninfectious pus (pustules).[17] The skin under and surrounding the pustules is red and tender. Pustular psoriasis can be localised, commonly to the hands and feet (palmoplantar pustulosis), or generalised with widespread patches occurring randomly on any part of the body. Types include:

Additional types of psoriasis include:[18]

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Psoriasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.A.D.A.M.

Psoriasis is very common. Anyone can get it, but it most commonly begins between ages 15 and 35.

You cannot catch psoriasis or spread it to others.

Psoriasis seems to be passed down through families. Doctors think it may be an autoimmune condition. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.

Usually, skin cells grow deep in the skin and rise to the surface about once a month. When you have psoriasis, this process takes place is too fast. Dead skin cells build up on the skin's surface.

The following may trigger an attack of psoriasis or make the condition harder to treat:

Bacteria or viral infections, including strep throat and upper respiratory infections

Dry air or dry skin Injury to the skin, including cuts, burns, and insect bites

Stress

Too little sunlight

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Psoriasis - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

Psoriasis Overview

Psoriasis is a common and chronic incurable but treatable skin disorder. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form and appears as elevated plaques of red skin covered with silvery scale that may itch or burn. The involved areas are usually found on the arms, legs, trunk, or scalp but may be found on any part of the skin. The most typical areas are the knees and elbows.

Psoriasis is not contagious but can be inherited. Research indicates that the disease may result from a disorder in the immune system (See Causes).

Factors such as smoking, sunburn, alcoholism, and HIV infection may prolong the severity and extent of the condition.

Approximately 1%-2% of people in the United States, or about 5.5 million, have plaque psoriasis. Up to 30% of people with plaque psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. Individuals with psoriatic arthritis have inflammation in their joints and may have other arthritic symptoms. Sometimes plaque psoriasis can evolve into more inflammatory disease, such as pustular psoriasis or erythrodermic psoriasis. In pustular psoriasis, the red areas on the skin contain small blisters filled with pus. In erythrodermic psoriasis, extensive areas of red and scaling skin are typical.

Psoriasis affects children and adults. Men and woman are affected equally. Females develop plaque psoriasis earlier in life than males. The first peak occurrence of plaque psoriasis is in people 16-22 years of age. The second peak is in people 57-60 years of age.

Psoriasis can affect all races. Studies have shown that more people in western European and Scandinavian populations have psoriasis than those in other population groups.

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An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psoriasis.

Overview:

Causes

Treatment

Outlook

Psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease. Patients with psoriasis have a higher than normal risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and other blood vessel conditions that are also related to inflammation. They should work with their doctors to prevent or manage these problems.

An estimated 7.5 million Americans (2.2% of the population) have psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder in which there are sharply defined red patches on the skin, covered by a silvery, flaky surface. The disease activity may wax and wane over time.

The main disease activity leading to psoriasis occurs in the epidermis, the top five layers of the skin. The process starts in the basal (deepest) layer of the epidermis, where keratinocytes are made. Keratinocytes are immature skin cells that produce keratin, a tough protein that helps form hair, nails, and skin. In normal cell growth, keratinocytes grow and move from the bottom layer to the skin's surface and shed unnoticed. This process takes about a month.

In people with psoriasis, the keratinocytes multiply very rapidly and travel from the basal layer to the surface in about 4 days. The skin cannot shed these cells quickly enough, so they build up, leading to thick, dry patches, or plaques. Silvery, flaky areas of dead skin build up on the surface of the plaques they are shed. The skin layer underneath (dermis), which contains the nerves and blood and lymphatic vessels, becomes red and swollen.

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Skin is the largest and most visible organ in the body. Just as clear, glowing and unblemished skin elicits praise and attention, skin problems can provoke the reverse, with sufferers feeling shunned or judged by their appearance. No wonder conditions such as acne and psoriasis have been linked with depression and anxiety.

There's no denying that skin diseases can be ugly, itchy and confronting and the social stigma surrounding flawed skin still seems only just a step away from during the Middle Ages, when lepers were shunned and forced to don bells to warn of their approach.

The burden of having a skin condition remains heavy, regardless of age, gender or social status and, collectively, skin disease is the fourth greatest cause of the non-fatal global health burden.

Experts say it's time society realised the enormity of living with a skin problem and helped alleviate the physical and emotional toll by extending the afflicted and their carers a helping hand.

Three skin conditions - acne, fungal skin diseases, other skin and subcutaneous diseases - were in the top 10 most prevalent diseases worldwide in 2010, according to an analysis of their prevalence and impact, published in theJournal of Investigative Dermatology.

''Using more data than has been used previously, the burden due to these diseases is enormous in both high and low-income countries,'' say the study's authors.

''These results argue strongly to include skin disease prevention and treatment in future global health strategies as a matter of urgency.''

There are measures people can take to prevent sun damage, burns, cuts and rashes, but despite our best efforts to try to protect the body's largest organ, some damaging, life-changing skin conditions can't be cured.

Dermatologists say the stress on patients and their families of managing some skin conditions and the associated physical, psychological and social impact on their lives is huge.

Psoriasis patients have a 39 per cent increased risk of depression. Those with it in severe form have a 77 per cent increased risk and are at increased risk of anxiety and suicide, says the Australian National Psoriasis Foundation.

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Skin conditions leave emotional scars